The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-17


To Sir r. J. OclcSbv. Governor cf Illinois:
Ancnt the fact that the progressive and liberty
loving portion Of the American people
dcavoring to prevail upon you to inteTposc your
Drerogatiye in my case. feel impehcd To de-
clare with my friend and comrade Parsons. thSt
| demand eith.r liberty or death. If you gro
really a servant of the people accordin" TO the
constitution of the country. then you will by
virtue Of your office unconditionally release me.
Referring 10 the general and inalicnabe rights
of men, have called upon the disinhCri'cd and
oppressed masses to oppose the force of their cp
pr,,sSorS-eXerciSed 10y armed enforcement of in
famous laws enacted in the interest of capital
with force, in order to attain n di-nificd and
manly existence hy securing the full returns cf
their labor 1his-and only this-iS the crime
which was proven against me. notwit thstanuing
the employment Of p"rjured testimony the
part Of tue state. And this crime is guaranteed
not only as a right. but az duty. by the AIuCti-
can institution, the representative Of which you
are supposed to be in the state of Illinois.
But il You are not the representative Of :bc
constitution, like the great majority Of cf.co
holders a IDcre tool Of the mpucpolists
specific political clique, you Will moi encrcach
uDon the thirst for blood displayed by the
to-tionerS because a mere mitigation Of the
dict would be cOTIrGice and proof tlat tie
TnIipy classes which you represent are them
selves ata4hel at the III nstrosity OF my CON
dcr.HG:ion. and consequently, Of their oHn yio-
Iatfon Of the most sacred rights cf the people
Your decision in th2t event will not uniy JUICE
me, but also yourself and those whom yoH repre-
sent Judge. tiaen. LOUIS II.;GG.
SIN orner to hc sure tl,at this lct,,-r viii
cone 10 oar official notice. viii ssnd you the
, original manuscript Is q registered letter
L l.
GEORGE EEGEL's LETTER.
Dear c:--I George Engcl citizen Q: t'rc Caitcd
States and Df C1icago, and condemned 10 d.&:!i.
learn that thousands of ciIizens petit.on you. -
tha hg-~t executive CflceT Of the state II Hi
| pots. to commute my sentence of death 10 IEI-
p.ison-rtnt. Iprott=st cmphaticaily against t.is
| on the GLOWING grounds:
Ia9. not aHare OF having violated any lave cr
this cyuutTy l. ms firm ~ lief in the coL5StitC
| tirl which tie founders Of this repUb ic L.
| or,eataed 10 this people, and which remains u-
Uttered have exercised the right Of free s. I-tcn
free ,9-tes free thought aad free as5eIlbL.Se as
c-Iarant.c ed by tie constitution, and have crif-
tised tac exiting condition Of society and SIC
o0rcd INV fellow citizens with my sdyicc, whftI
regard as ;ac right Of every honest citizei. Tie
sx3s.-:encs- xIich hcye had Ia this country DIR
m: the fifteen years that have lived here, coz
-eTning the ballot ard the administration cGr
outil.- inctiynaries who Lave become totally
ilDt have eraiGa.e5 my belief In tie existC nee Of
DUAL riLts Of por end rich, and the action of he
-,:ioiic Cfhcrs. police end militia have produced
-. G--n belief IN that these ccndifi hons cannot
| at long. Il accordance with this experience I
| laya taught and advised. This ] have doIr in
.cCd faith IF t4s- rights which guaranteed )
re constitution, and, not being conscious of MY
| -lsilt the powers that be may murder me bI.
| he ,auBot legally punish me. protect agalBst
| cornnI:tai!c:i IF thy s--nicnc", and demand